SC college: 1 wounded in shooting near campus

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — One person was wounded Tuesday night in a shooting at a residence hall near a South Carolina college campus, prompting school officials to order a lockdown of campus buildings.

Coastal Carolina University spokeswoman Martha Hunn said the gunman left in a vehicle and was still at large Tuesday night. The State Law Enforcement Division has taken over the investigation into the shooting.

Hunn said dispatchers received a call at around 7:20 p.m. regarding a shooting at University Place, an apartment-style residence hall that is adjacent to S.C. Highway 544. Students were alerted by email and text message. The school is in Conway, 15 miles northwest of Myrtle Beach.

Hunn said the victim was transported to Grand Strand Regional Hospital. There was no information on the condition of the shooting victim, who wasn't immediately identified.

University Place resident Kaitlin Eriksen told The Sun News of Myrtle Beach that she was inside her apartment when she heard four or five shots. Eriksen said she went to her balcony to see where the shots came from and saw a man fall against the back of a car's rear window.

"He took about two steps back and then collapsed. He just fell out there," Eriksen said.

Students were allowed to leave classroom buildings late Tuesday and return to their dorms, but residence halls remained on lockdown.

According to the school's website, University Place houses almost 2,000 students.

Coastal Carolina University has an enrollment of slightly more than 9,000 students. The liberal arts school was founded in 1954.